Great Expectations

Summary: This deals with social status based on money in the first part of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens focuses on the theme of social classes throughout the beginning of the novel, Great Expectations. Pip visited Estella at Miss Havisham's house, and from the beginning she began to judge him because he was of a lower social class than her. She said, "Why he's a common labouring boy!" (74). This quote was a reply from Estella when Miss Havisham told her to play cards with Pip. Estella judges people a lot based on their social class. She was appalled by the thought of playing cards with a common boy like Pip. The next time social ranks were brought up was when Joe and Pip discussed Pip's new clothes. Pip, "That's just what I don't want Joe. They would make such a business of it-such a coarse and common business-that I couldn't bear myself" (182). Joe previously told Pip he should show off his new, expensive clothes; but...